Section 229-106-7 - COMPETITIVE RATING SYSTEM SCORING CRITERIAMaineDOT will award available Quality Community Program funds in a fair and equitable manner based on available funding, and the scoring criteria below.
The scoring criteria for Quality Community Program applications is as follows and will be scored on a system based on a 100 points, which will be published as part of the application:
1.Scoring Criteria DefinitionsA.Transportation Value. "Transportation Value" is the degree to which a project serves valid transportation purposes as opposed to recreational or other purposes. A project serves a valid transportation purpose if it serves as a connection between origins and destinations, increases safety, or enhances the use of the transportation system and the transportation environment.B.Positive Impact on the Community. "Positive Impact on the Community" is one that makes a community a better place to live.C.Regional Impact. "Regional Impact" is the project's positive impact on the region in which it is located, and the degree to which it will serve users from beyond a single municipality.D.Demonstrated Need. "Demonstrated Need" indicates how well a project serves important functions and accomplishes the project's stated purpose.E.State Planning Goals/Economic/Tourism Benefit. "State Planning Goals/Economic/Tourism Benefit" indicates how well a project will enhance or enable a livable, compact community that has the potential to improve quality of life, thereby enhancing the economic vibrancy of a community or region.F.Potential Safety Improvement. "Potential Safety Improvement" is a project that addresses existing or potential safety problems or issues.G.New Opportunities. "New Opportunities" identifies how a project will create new improvements that do not exist or might not otherwise occur or that leverage additional investments.2.Determining avoided costsA. To be eligible for incentive bonus points, the amount of funding applied for in the application must be commensurate with the merits of a plan and related policies, programs and ordinances and for an amount that does not exceed the estimated cost of the specific investment proposal.B. The projected transportation-related avoided costs from implementation of the Community Transportation Plan must exceed the amount of the funding as determined by the department in its rating system.C. To determine the avoided costs, the municipality should clearly demonstrate that transportation related savings resulting from implementation of the Community Transportation Plan will exceed the amount of the funding applied for. These estimated cost savings should be taken directly from the approved Community Transportation Plan.17-229 C.M.R. ch. 106, § 7